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By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013 | 2 a.m.
Washington — The Defense Department’s announcement last week that women would be eligible to serve in combat roles was a historic change. But for many Nevada veterans, the new order is a standard that is long overdue. “We had been trying for years, but I think we finally hit a point in society where society could accept it,” said Dottie Marsh, the women’s veterans advocate with the Nevada Chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “If this push had happened 20 years ago, society probably wouldn’t have accepted it. But with Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan, we saw that women are already ...
I guess some have seen one too many Hollywood movies & TV shows whereby the heroine kicks the crap out of the big bad guys. It's fantasy, folks! Lara Croft is really a wimp! Just wait until the first patrol, larded with women, goes into battle, gets captured and those women are raped, tortured, beheaded and their heads hung on pikes! Then the crap will really hit the fan. Anyone with an ounce of brains think that stories such as that will not have the American populace screaming for the stupidity to end? That is, if it happens under a Republican administration. If a Dumbocrat is in the Oval Office, MSM newspapers & magazines will deem the story of "no importance" and either ignore it completely or bury it on page 31B. Further, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN & MSNBC will be busy putting on a "happy" face by showing us the new & cute doggie the First Family just got.
I really didn't think it could get any worse for our armed forces when the Obama administration openly authorized gays to serve in our military. As a former U.S. Marine, I found this extremely disgusting.
But now, Obama's "pint-sized pet", Leon Panetta has even topped his past disgrace of gays in the military with a new ignominy for Americans like me, to have this shoved down our throats. It's called "Women in Combat". And the Obama administration calls this, "Another Step Forward"? Stepping where? Stepping into what?
When it comes to women in combat, this is just typical Obama politics being patronizing to a bunch of modern day militant suffragettes. Really, at what other gain could this possibly be? Neither the Marine Corps nor the Army are hurting for frontline soldiers. In fact, with the war winding down in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense is working to eliminate some, and reduce other combat MOS's (Military Occupational Specialties).
But, it is clear that our "Commander-in-Chief" has no problems with a less combat effective unit in the name of equality for these gays and women.
I can see it all now. Relationships on the frontline; whether gay or heterosexual, Obama is now introducing the most stressful non-combat-related situation into a combat situation that could possibly be imagined.
@FInk:
MOST of America is smart to enough to realize what COULD happen to our soldiers, both male and female. Sure, it may be hard to deal with if female soldiers are captured, but again - Americans are SMART enough to realize it comes with the job, just as being a female police officer faces the same dangers as their male counterprts. I've known female soldiers and my guess they can kick your ass, leaving you crying with wet pants.
@BChap
Shame on you. I thought you were a bit more progressive thinking than that. So there are gays in the military. Ya' think that's something new?? I hate to hit you with some truths - but there are even Gays in the Marines!! Always was and always will be. But wait - you're a former Marine. That explains the "holier than thou" attitude....that ONLY MALE soldiers can do the job.
"Nevada Veterans Applaud"? you mean female Nevada veterans. I am a veteran and nobody asked me. I was in one of the first, if not thee first Military Police class at Ft McClellan, Alabama back in the 70's that allowed females.If memory serves me right there were 4 woman in the class, males had to qualify with the .45, women a .38 caliber and don't even get me started on the fitness standards which none of the females were able to pass without the drill sargents overlooking and fudging the numbers. Were some of these woman capable of doing the job, sure they were. But, the fact is standards men where expected to meet were lowered to accomodate women and that might be ok for an MP unit, but I know I sure wouldn't want to be in an infantry unit knowing some of the soldiers next to me passed through because of some civilians PC notion of "fairness". And of course they would never put an all female squad or platoon out in actual combat because these defeciencies would become glaring, so there will always be mixed units in order to hide them and the male grunt will have another burden on his hands while trying to figure out how to save his own skin.
There is a big difference between women serving in combat and women serving in combat units (i.e. grunts, combat engineers, etc.). The majority of the issues will occur in garrison. The only way this has a chance at being successful is if physical fitness standards are the same for both genders. The lowered standards for women creates a lot of animosity between men and women, already. Women in combat units wouldn't be such an issue if we'd been playing on the same level.
In reply to "Captain Crunch"; number one, I'm no progressive, I'm an independent.
I had no problem with gays in the military while the policy was, "don't ask, don't tell".
I had no problem with women in the military until allowed to serve in direct combat positions.
This was not about prejudice. These previous restrictions were about practicality. These boundaries addressed the common acts of human nature. This is about certain realisms taking place of "Frontline Romances, Relationships and Emotions" in a combat zone. One thing is for sure, it will make a damn gory reality show.
On the one hand, I see this this as largely a PC political issue with minimal real world impact -- only an extremely small number of women will be interested and able. On the other hand, if they do meet standards, having women in the units may be helpful, especially in moslem countries (the same way interpreters are). That may not be what the far left or feminists envision, but it could easily become the reality.
I'm truly not in favor of this but if a woman can pass the "SAME" physical standards as men then so be it. Just remember that when the stuff hits the fan who was in office and gave his blessing and those of you that are in favor of it don't pass the buck.
@Det_Munch: grow up with the "I know female soldiers that can kick your a$$" it sounds like playground talk.
Republican Dr Newt Gingrich said that women because of their anatomy would have to squat in a field and would get infections. Wisdumb from Republiklans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY6m-uF7z...
mred do we really care what Gingrich says? I think that as adults we can decipher what anyone says and make our own judgements.
Too bad we don't have the draft. No doubt this would be viewed totally opposite by the VAST majority of women. Bring back the draft...
What a joke---women in the military always get the cushy jobs and easy assignments--not an opinion--FACT. My unit was a perfect example--almost no women were out "in the field"--most people have never served and forget the obvious. You have 20K men at a base, and 600 women--dah---every girl no matter how ugly gets asked out--no girl ever has to do any hard duty---Every guy is away from home and wants to get laid. The higher ups are so scared of a girl getting raped they have to juggle the schedules trying to get girls working with girls. Most of the time they stick the girls in the cushy desk jobs, or teaching bs training classes or quality control or some other bs job where they are not actually doing the really hard work side by side with the boys. If they do get a field assignment they are "drivers" or some such support job. Bottom line they take all the easier jobs that guys wish they could get sometimes and not be stuck doing all the heavy lifting all the time---they create a schedule nightmare for the supervisors--trying to keep the girls safe--and they of course all the sexual tension and competition of the men all distracted by the girls when they should be concentrating on the job. HORRIBLE IDEA.
So what your saying Mr. Chapline that as long as everyone does things your way it is alright to do them.
Thanks for serving but I am glad you are not in charge.
Let them serve. As long as they are able to perform to the same standards as a male (let them carry that ruck with the 75-100lbs, plus the vest, weapon, ammo, and other gear), then let them. The Infantry squad works as a team, expecting each and everyone to meet the minimum standards and looks out for each other. I expect very few woman will qualify (or even want to) for infantry.
Some positions that woman do qualify for (medics, Military Police) are such that they should be considered front line units. As far as pay, woman are treated the same as a male, as soon as they are in theatre they are receiving combat (Hazardous Duty) pay. Awards are given due to a persons achievements and are controlled by the unit they are assigned to. Even today, a woman could be awarded the Bronze Star or higher award, if they were so deserving.